DramatistDreamer

One (of many) things that perplexes me about this SH*T-tastic tax bill is that it would appear to take control to levy taxes away from the states and local legislatures. Wait, isn't always Conservatives/Republicans who never stop squawking about giving the individual states the right to determine their own ways of doing things? This tax bill makes a mockery of that sentiment. Boy when the GOP decides to dump all their beliefs for the sake of political expediency, they go whole hog!

...and here we go...

Could he be next?

Where's a vomit emoji when you need one?

I agree. Although, in regards to the most recent purges, Halperin, Rose and Lauer hardly constitute lefties, they are far closer to the right than to the left, especially Halperin and Lauer.

I remember The Frugal Gourmet also and was shocked when I finally learned why he had disappeared from PBS.

The British Prime Minister has condemned the actions of a U.S. President in a public rebuke. Let that sink in.

People have noted how low-key antagonistic Lauer has been in previous interviews with HRC while seeming obliging toward Trump (who has just accused Joe Scarborough of committing murder) in interviews. In terms of the tax "plan" (for the richest), it has cleared the first hurdle in the process. What we can only hope is that pressure continues to mount and someone flakes right before/during the final vote on the Floor, as they've done with other venal GOP legislative bills. Many are complaining how exhausting it feels to try to agitate with calls, e-mails and tweets to get their elected officials to try to do the fair thing.

Is it wrong for me to say that I am unsurprised by the Matt Lauer proceedings? He has often struck me as a person wedded to his own sense of personal power, willing to wield that sense of power to manipulate others, particular those with less clout than he had.

So the 'Sonic Attacks' that were suspected in Cuba (which Trump used as a pretext to cut diplomatic relations with Cuba, IMO) is now suddenly happening in Uzbekistan. What?! You mean, it is likely that the Cubans should've been taken on their word that they were befuddled by the occurrence, after all? https://www.cbsnews.com/news/uzbekistan-incident-raises-suspicions-of-russian-involvement-in-cuba-attacks/ The White House said it was poor lighting. I say it's the dark forces present in this current WH at work.

Kris Kobach, vice-chair of Trump's bogus election integrity committee is having some trouble in his home state of Kansas where his policies are in turmoil. Kris Kobach Wants to Make It Harder to Vote Nationwide—But He’s Already Failing Back Home in Kansas

Trump accomplished exactly ZERO during his trip to Asia (except, perhaps to line the coffers of his businesses). Maybe if he'd keep his goddamn mouth shut for once, Kim wouldn't have a nuclear clapback for every ridiculous tweet or speech that the Orange Menace sends out into the universe. Trump should try shutting it, for once, there might be one less missile test.

How many fuckin times in one year??!

Stan Wawrinka is supposed to make an announcement, next week, I think. Any guesses on what we think that announcement will be?

Honestly, I haven't finished that article because from what I was reading, I was starting to have some serious questions of who/what Ms. Landsbury might be covering for. Angela Landsbury's mentality is in a time-warp. She just can't seem to fathom that a woman might want to look attractive for her own personal appeasement. Like, me personally, I like my skin to be smooth, not because I want men touching me but because I like the velvety feel of my own skin. Sometimes I'll put on lipgloss, do my nails when I'm around the apartment just because. Other times, I'll go outside sans makeup with a hat thrown on, no earrings. And guess what? I've still been hit on! What she says is perplexing to me.

I generally try to ignore Orange Menace's actions but I truly felt badly for those men. It was such a disrespectful spectacle. The moment was supposed to be about honoring these men and their sacrifices. They are in their 90s, how many times will they get to be honored publicly in this way? And the Buffoon-in-Chief ruined the moment. Yes, to make matters worse, it right in front of Andrew Jackson who sought about a plan that had genocidal consequences for the Native Americans. How very shameful! I hope those Navajo Code Talkers and the community in general can recall better times when they were shown respect to erase yesterday's memory.

ICYMI,

That's a fair enough statement. Positive or negative, the U.S. won't have much to say about it at this point though, being on the outside looking in now (I can also see Great Britain occupying a similar position soon).

@Hunk Chandler Massey I mentioned the episode a few pages back. Tee-hee!

So the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has been investigating Santander Bank and now that Cordray has stepped down and named his replacement (in accordance with Dodd-Frank) and Trump has tried to install his own replacement (for which the Trump administration is facing a lawsuit) Mick Mulvaney. Suddenly we discover that Mulvaney (Trump's pick) not only wants to dismantle the CFPB but is connected to a lobbyist for Santander Bank (the subject of the CFPB investigation). Boy this administration is ALL about Conflicts of Interest! Trump Conflict Of Interest: CFPB Pick Mulvaney Linked To Lobbyist For Bank Facing Possible CFPB Sanctions

Americans and the U.S. may be caught up in the daily paroxysms of Fanta Fascist and the machinations of his cataclysmic government, the rest of the world moves on. How the world has moved on without America, in just a year

I've tried to venture onto Time's website a few times over the past few years and found it loaded with junkware, especially pop-ups and pop-under ads, which turned me off before I could even attempt to read the content.

Despite that clever clapback that Time threw at Trump, the magazine is still slated to be acquired Koch brothers owned Meredith Corporation. Also, speaking of clapbacks, I hear Susan Sarandon is getting dragged (but what else is new?) for some interview she did recently. I don't intend of reading it because Sarandon makes me tired.